Toy hill-climbing system

ABSTRACT

A toy hill-climbing system is disclosed including a simulated motorcycle, a motorcycle launcher, a roadway simulating rough terrain and parallel tracks connecting the roadway and the launcher. The roadway is placed at a greater vertical height than the launcher so that the tracks are upwardly sloped to simulate an actual motorcycle hill climb competition.

United States Patent Bales et al.

[ 1 Oct. 10,1972

[541 TOY HILL-CLIMBING SYSTEM [72] Inventors: Joseph H. Bales,Huntington Beach; Brian S. Prodger, Torrance; Kurt Ruppel, RedondoBeach, all of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

[22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 99,084

[52] US. Cl ..46/202 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 17/16 [58] Field of Search..46/201, 202

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,241,263 3/1966 Branstner..46/202 X 3,205,616 9/1965 Nisperly ..46/201 Primary Examiner-AntonioF. Guida Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney-Seymour A.Scholnick [57] ABSTRACT A toy hill-climbing system is disclosedincluding a simulated motorcycle, a motorcycle launcher, a roadwaysimulating rough terrain and parallel tracks connecting the roadway andthe launcher. The roadway is placed at a greater vertical height thanthe launcher so that the tracks are upwardly sloped to simulate anactual motorcycle hill climb competition.

10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDncI 10 m2 3 6 96; 555

snmuure PATENTEB um 10 1912 QQN QQN

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TOY HILL-CLIMBING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of theInvention The present invention relates to a toy system having a vehicleand a path for the vehicle, and, more particularly, to a toy system forsimulating a motorcycle hillclimbing competition.

2. Description of the Prior Art Motorcycle hill-climbing is a sport thathas been practiced for a good many years with somewhat scant publicattention; however, with the rapidly increasing popularity ofmotorcycles, the sport of motorcycle hillclimbing has also becomepopular. In order to satisfy the desires of children to participate inthis exciting sport, efforts were attempted to simulate motorcyclehill-climbing in a toy structure.

A major problem to overcome in the attempted simulation is the design ofa system which is realistic enough to capture the thrilling features ofmotorcycle hill-climbing and yet may be effectively and efficientlymanufactured so as to be inexpensively mass marketed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned problem has been obviatedby the present invention which provides a toy hill-climbing systemcomprising a toy vehicle launcher; at least one track section connectedto the launcher; and a roadway simulating rough terrain connected to thetrack section and positioned at a greater height than the launcher, atleast a portion of the track section having an upwardly slopingdisposition. The invention further includes a roadway comprising acurved pathway with having a first end at a level different from thelevel of a second end; and means for supporting the curved pathway withits ends at different levels, the supporting means being integral withthe curved-pathway and made of synthetic resin material, whereby toyvehicles are moved along the pathway from one level to the other levelby the force of gravity. Further, the present invention includes asupport and track section connector comprising a first portion forengaging a track section and a second portion disposed essentiallyperpendicular to the first portion and connected at one end to the firstportion, the second portion having a U-shaped second end whereby theconnector cooperates to support the roadway and connect the roadway to atrack section. Still further, the present invention includes a toyvehicle comprising a vehicle body; at least two large wheels mounted tothe body; a base removably attached to the vehicle body; and four smallfreely rotatable wheels mounted to the base, two wheels on each side ofthe base, whereby the toy vehicle is movable along a track system on thefour small wheels and the large wheels are spaced from the track system.Also included in the invention is a toy vehicle launcher comprising asupporting base including a pathway; a pusher arm slidably connected tothe supporting base and movable along the pathway; an elastic bandconnected to the supporting base and to the pusher arm for impartingmotion to the pusher arm; and means for latching the pusher arm toselectively prevent movement of the pusher arm.

It is a general aim of the present invention to provide a toy systemwhich simulates the sport of motorcycle hill-climbing and which can beinexpensively manufactured for mass marketing.

An allied object of the present invention is to provide a toy roadwaywhich simulates a real roadway through a hilly terrain, which iscollapsible to a compact size for facilitating transportation, handlingand packaging and which is inexpensively manufactured.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector whichsupports thev roadway in a non-collapsed position, which connects andaligns a track section and the roadway and which is inexpensivelymanufactured.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a toyvehicle which moves easily along a track and/or roadway system, whichsimulates a motorcycle and which may be inexpensively manufactured.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a toy vehiclelauncher whichis simply constructed, inexpensively manufactured andeasily used by a child, and which provides sufficient force to a toyvehicle to propel the vehicle up a steep incline.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective partiallybroken away view of a toy hill-climbing system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective partially sectional view of a toy vehiclelauncher.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational sectional view taken along line 33 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational sectional view partially broken awayof the launcher of FIG. 2 and illustrating a toy vehicle positioned onthe launcher.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the toy vehicle illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6' isan enlarged sectional view of a portion of the toy vehicle ofFIG. 4 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the roadway illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view partially broken away of the roadwayillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7 taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view partially in dotted line illustrating thecollapsed position of the roadway shown in FIG. 7'.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged elevational sectional view of a portion of theroadway taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged elevational sectional view of the roadway of FIG.7 as viewed along line 11-11 of FIG. 7 and, including an example of thetrajectory taken by a moving toy vehicle.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a support and track section connectorwhich is used in conjunction with the roadway of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the present invention issusceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions,illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings and will herein bedescribed in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is notthe intention to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed;but, on the contrary, the

intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a toy hillclimbing system20, including a toy vehicle launcher 22 and a roadway 24 which issituated on a table 26 so as to be at a greater vertical height than thelauncher 22. Connecting the launcher and the roadway are two paralleltracks 28 and 30; a return track 32 is connected to the roadway and maydirect a vehicle back to the vicinity of the launcher or to anadditional track layout. The launcher has provision for launching twotoy vehicles, one each alongthe tracks 28 and 30 so as to allowcompetition races up the tracks to the roadway. The roadway includes amerger portion (which will be described more clearly hereinbelow) sothat the vehicles moving along each of the tracks 28 and 30 merge tomove along the same pathway through the roadway. The tracks may beidentical or similar to those described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,487,999 toA. W. B. Nash, et al., and assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention.

It is to be understood that while the preferred embodiment describedherein is contemplated for a motorcycle-type toy vehicle, thehill-climbing system may be used to handle other types of toy vehiclessuch as small racing automobiles; for example, like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,981 to H. W. La Branche et al., and assigned to theassignee of the present invention.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the presentinvention, provision is made for launching toy vehicles in a simple andexpeditious fashion by'a launcher which is simply constructed andinexpensively manufactured and which is exceedingly easy to use so thateven a small child may act as an operator. In addition, the launcher isconstructed to provide sufficient force to a vehicle to propel it alonga relatively steep upwardly sloping track; the launcher may be operatedto propel a single vehicle or two vehicles in side by side racingcompetition. Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the toy vehicle launcher22 comprises a molded synthetic resin base 34 having two preformedpathways 36 and 38 disposed parallel to one another. Slideable along thepathway 36 is a vehicle engaging pusher arm 40 while slideable along thepathway 38 is a vehicle engaging pusher arm 42. Since both pathways areidentically constructed as are the pusher arms, only the pusher arm 40will be described in greater detail.

The pusher arm 40 includes an elongated base element 44 which isattached to a hook portion 46 at one end of the base element and anupright vehicle engaging wall 48 at the other end. The wall 48, in turn,is attached integrally to a flange portion 50 which cooperates with anactivating latch mechanism 52 described in more detail hereinbelow.Connected to the hook portion 46 is an elastic band 54 which may be anordinary rubber band looped around the hook portion at one end, directedaround a depending pin 55, and looped around a T-shaped lug 56 at thebands other end. The T-shaped lug 56 is attached to a control shaft 58and a knob 60. The shaft 58 is constrained to be rotatable relative thesupporting base so that the elastic band 54 may be wound about the shaftto increase tautness. A lower portion 62 of the shaft is restrained inajournal manner by an annular bearing 64 which is integral with a lowersurface 66 of the supporting base. The upper portion 68 of the shaft isrestrained by an upper surface 70 of the supporting base. The knob 60projects above the upper surface 70 and is easily grasped to rotate theshaft to cause the desired tautness in the elastic band. The greater thetautness of the elastic band, the greater will be the biasing force onthe pusher arm.

Restraining the biasing force of the elastic band is the activatinglatch mechanism 52. The activating mechanism includes an elongated armportion 72 which is integral with the supporting base 34, but hinged sothat the latch mechanism is movable as shown in FIG. 4 from the positionillustrated in solid line to the position illustrated in dotted line.The elongated arm portion 72 includes a depressor surface 74 which givesan operator convenient access to depress the latch mechanism with athumb or forefinger. At the end of the elongated arm opposite thatintegral with the supporting base is a hook portion 76 which isengageable with the flange portion 50 of the pusher arm. As shown inFIG. 4, when the pusher arm 40 is in its rearward position indicated bythe dotted lines of the flange 50, and the latching mechanism 52 is inits upward or horizontal position as shown in solid line, the pusher armis restrained from moving. However, when a force is placed on thedepressor surface 74, such as by an operators finger, the latchingmechanism 52 pivots to the position shown in dotted line, therebyreleasing the flange 50 and allowing the pusher arm to be moved tothe'left (as depicted in FIG. 4) due to the biasing force exerted by theelastic band.

As viewed in FIG. 4, leftward movement of the pusher arm will continueuntil a leading end portion 78 of the pusher arm strikes a depending lip80 extending from the upper surface of the pathway 36. The end portion78 also engages the toy vehicle. Thus, the toy vehicle, such as amotorcycle 82, is catapulted by the launcher with a force proportionalto the tautness of the elastic band. It is to be noted that the toyvehicle may be pushed by the wall 48 if the vehicle is an automobile or,as mentioned, by the leading end portion 78 in the motorcycle embodimentillustrated and explained in more detail hereinbelow.

To further simulate competition-type racing, a housing 84, FIGS. 1 and4, having two parallel columns of openings is provided. The purpose ofthe housing is to simulate a Christmas tree starting device which is nowcommonly used in actual drag race competitions. The actual starteroperates by flashing a pair of lights, one from each column, in a serialmanner descending from the two uppermost lights down the housing untilthe lowermost pair of lights are flashed providing the signal to start.The lights are colored so that the uppermost lights are orange while thelowermost lights are green with the lights between being of variousshades along the spectrum from orange to green. Internal mechanisms inthe housing provide the simulated sequencing of lights.

In accordance with another important aspect of the present invention, aroadway is provided which simulates an actual roadway through a hillyterrain, and yet, is inexpensively manufactured by a simple moldingtechnique. Additionally, the roadway is hinged so that it may becollapsed with one portion situated within the remainder so as to lessenthe volume required for the package in which the roadway and/or thehill-climbing system is marketed. Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, theroadway is comprised of a curved pathway 90 having a first end dividedinto two sections 92 and 94 and a second end 96 which is positioned at alower height or vertical level than the two sections 92 and 94 of thefirst end which are at the same level. The curved pathway 90 is formedin a terrain support structure 98 which is molded to simulate a rough,hill-like terrain, such as commonly used for motorcycle racing. Theroughness is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7. Because of thedifference in height between the first end and the second end of thepathway, a vehicle placed at the first end will move along the slopedpathway due to the force provided by gravity. It is noted that thepathway is split into two sections 93 and 95 corresponding to the twosections of the first end. The pathway sections converge and merge at alocation designated 100 with the pathway continuing toward the secondend having a width sufficient for just one toy vehicle. In this fashion,when there is competition between two vehicles, the winning vehicle willbe that one which first reaches and passes through the merger location.Prior to reaching the merger, the vehicles move along parallel butseparate tracks or pathways; however, once past the merger, the singlevehicle width pathway causes the vehicles to move in a single file.

As shown in FIG. 8, the terrain support structure has two openings 102and 104, located about midway along the curved pathway 90. Emanatingfrom the two openings is a slit 106 which extends from the opening 102to the opening 104 and encompasses the first end of the pathway.'Theslit is depicted in the drawing of FIG. 8 as a very dark wide line. Theslit effectively divides the support into a first portion which includesthe two sections of the first end of the pathway and the mergerlocation, and the remaining portion which includes the second end of thepathway and the lower or base terrain portion of the support structure.For purposes of illustration, the first mentioned portion will be termedthe upper portion 108, while the remainder of the support structure willbe termed the lower portion 110, FIG. 7.

The upper portion 108 is movable between two positions, an upperposition as shown in FIG. 7 where the upper portion is essentially abovethe bottom portion and where the first end sections 92 and 94 are at agreater vertical height than the second end 96, and a lower position inwhich the upper portion 108 is pivoted about a hinge formed along animaginary line connecting the two openings 102 and 104 to allow theupper portion to be disposed within the lower portion as illustrated inFIG. 9. By comparing FIGS. 7 and 9, which are elevation views, it isquite clear that the total vertical height of the roadway is reduced byalmost half when the upper portion is moved to its lower position. Thus,by having the upper portion retract into the lower portion, the roadwaybecomes a relatively compact unit which can be much more economicallyand easily packaged for marketing purposes. Further, the lower portionacts to protect the peaks designed into the upper portion. The nestingof the upper portion into the lower portion is easily accomplished sincethe roadway is constructed as a hollow mound or shell form. Thus, theinterior of the shell offers more than sufficient room for the upperportion while the gauge of the roadway allows the simplistic hinge to beformed between the openings 102 and 104.

Attached integrally to the two sections of the first end and the secondend are respectively track section connectors 112, 1 l4 and 1 16, FIG.8. Referring to FIG. 10, the connection made between the track 32 andthe track section connector 116 is illustrated in greater detail wherethe track section connector 116 is received within a channel 124 andthus, provides a continuation for the pathway Attached integrally at theend of the pathways 36 and 38 of the launcher are two track sectionconnectors 118 and 120, FIG. 2. Each of the track section connectors arereceivable within the channels formed in the tracks 28, 30 and 32, FIG.1, in a fashion more completely described in the abovementioned patentto Nash, et al. Thus, it is now apparent how easy it is to achieve thesystem layout illustrated in FIG. 1 where the roadway 24 is positionedsome 25 to 30 inches above the floor 122 on which is positioned thelauncher 22.

In accordance with still another important aspect of the presentinvention, a combination support and track section connector is providedfor supporting the roadway in its non-collapsed or non-nested positionas shown in FIG. 7, while at the same time, cooperating to moresubstantially connect and align a track section to the roadway.Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is illustrated a support and tracksection connector 126 which is comprised of a first flat portion 128 forengaging the channel of a track section and a second portion 130 whichis disposed perpendicular to the first portion 128 and integral at oneend with the first portion. At the other end of the second portion 130is a U-shaped section 132 having two legs 134 and 136 and a base 138.The U-shaped section 132 is attached integrally to the second portion insuch a fashion that a top surface 140 of the base 138 forms a shoulder.As more clearly shown in FIG. 11, the upper rim 141 of the lower portion110 of the roadway formed by the slit 106 is received within the channelshaped confines of the U- shaped section so that the support and tracksection connector may be mounted to the lower portion 110. The shouldersurface 140 acts as a ledge on which to receive the rim 142 of the upperportion 108 and thus acts as a relatively wide support surface for theupper portion of the roadway when the roadway is set up in operation,such as shown in FIG. 7. The first portion 128 of the connector alignswith the roadway track section connector 112 to help align andstrengthen the connection made to the track 30 so as to act as anextension of the pathway 90. To provide an optimum nonslip connectionbetween the first portion 128 and the track, the first portion haslongitudinal peripheral edges 131 and 133 having a series ofprotuberances and 137, respectively. The connected track 30 alsofunctions as an anchor to firmly bias the upper portion 108 of theroadway onto the shoulder surface 140, thereby assuring a stableroadway.

In accordance with yet another important feature of the presentinvention, there is disclosed a toy vehicle with freely rotating wheelswhich are easily movable along the track and roadway system and whichclosely simulates a full-sized motorcycle. Nevertheless, the vehicle canbe inexpensively manufactured while retaining an extremely ruggedconstruction. Referring now to FIGS. 4, and 6, the vehicle 82 iscomprised of a simulated motorcycle body 150 of a molded synthetic resinmaterial attached to two rotatable large wheels 152 and 154. Removablyattached to the vehicle body 150 is a relatively flat vehicle base 156having a forward recess 158 and a rearward recess 160 to accommodate thewheels 152 and 154, respectively. The connection between the. vehiclebase 156 and the vehicle body 150 may be achieved by any convenientfastening means such as the screw 162.

Attached to the vehicle base are four relatively small and freelyrotatable wheels 164, 166, 168 and 170. Each of the wheels is mounted toa small diameter wire, such as the wire 172 connected to the wheel 164,the wire 173 connected to the wheel 166, the wire 175 connected to thewheel 168 and the wire 177 connected to the wheel 170; the wires are inturn embedded in cylindrical receivers 165, 167, 169 and 171,respectively, integral with the vehicle base 156. The vehicle base isflexible to allow vertical movement of the wheels without damaging thesmall diameter wire axles. It is to be noted that each of the smallwheels 164, 166, 168 and 170 has a relatively wide smaller diameterportion and a narrow larger diameter portion. As is more fully explainedin the above-mentioned La Branche, et al. patent, the smaller therunning surface of the vehicle in contact with the running surface ofthe roadway, the lower the friction upon the vehicle; and, therefore,the lower the drag on the vehicles movement. It is also noted that thesidewalls 174 and 176 of the pathway 36 are obliquely disposed so thatany contact between the wheels and the sidewalls will be along a minimumof wheel area thereby again keeping drag to a minimum. The larger wheels152 and 154 are mounted so that they do not come into contact with therunning surface. This is clearly shown in FIG. 6; once again, thepurpose of the spacing is to insure a minimum of friction and therebydrag to the moving vehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 11, there is illustrated the realistic effectwhich can be achieved by the toy hillclimbing system of the presentinvention. Once the launcher imparts motion to the toy vehicle 82 andthe vehicle moves up the inclined track 30, abruptly changing thedirection of the track from an upward slope to a relatively horizontalposition causes the propelled vehicle to leave the track in a jumpingfashion. This is very analogous to an actual motorcycle hill-climb wherethere is a tendency of the vehicle to leave the ground upon reaching thetop of the hill. Stability of the motorcycle is no problem because ofthe addition of the vehicle base and four wheels to the vehicle body.Thus, since the track 30 and the pathway 90 are aligned, the vehiclewill simply jump over a portion of the track and pathway, land on thepathway and continue along.

In operation, the roadway 24 is set up with two support and tracksection connectors 126, one each attached adjacent the two sections 92and 94 of the first end of the pathway 90; the upper portion of theroadway is placed in the upper position so that the roadway assumes theprofile shown in FIG. 7. The roadway is placed at an elevated positionrelative to the launcher 22, such as upon a table top with the launcherremaining on the floor; track sections are connected to a suitablelength to create the tracks 28, 30 and 32. Two vehicles may then beplaced adjacent the two pusher arms 40 and 42 of the launcher while therespective knobs are rotated so as to increase the tautness of theelastic bands. Upon an appropriate signal, the latching mechanism isdepressed to allow the biasing force of the elastic bands to catapultthe vehicles along the parallel tracks 28 and 30. This is accomplishedby having the vehicle engaging end portion 78 engage the cylindricalreceivers 165, 167, FIGS. 4 and 6. Upon reaching the crest of the tracksand before entering the pathway 90, the vehicles will leave the trackmomentarily in a jumping or leaping fashion and return to the track andcontinue along the pathway 90. The first vehicle to reach and passthrough the merger and lead the single file around the remaining portionof the pathway is considered the winner of the competition. Because ofthe force of gravity, the vehicles will move from the pathway to thetrack 32 and return to floor level. It is to be understood that thelauncher 22 may be used with only one vehicle or that a single launcher,using the same principles as that described for the dual launcher 22 maybe provided when race competition is not desired.

Thus, what has been described is an inexpensive, yet highly exciting,simulated motorcycle hill-climbing system which is rugged, yet simplyconstructed and easily operated.

We claim:

1. A toy vehicle movable along a track comprising:

a vehicle body;

at least two large wheels mounted to said body;

a base removably attached to said vehicle body; and

four small freely rotatable wheels mounted to said base, two wheels oneach side of said base such that said large wheels mounted to said bodyare spaced from the track whereby said toy vehicle is movable along saidtrack system on said four wheels.

2. A toy vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said small wheels aremounted on small diameter wires which in turn are embedded in the base.

3. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base is flat withrecesses at each longitudinal and for receiving said large wheels andwith cylindrical receivers for receiving axles connected to said wheels.

4. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle bodysimulates the shape of a motorcycle.

5. A toy vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

at least two large wheels mounted to said body;

a base removably attached to said vehicle body; and

four small freely rotatable wheels mounted to said base, two wheels oneach side of said base, said small wheels are mounted on small diameterwires which in turn are embedded in the base, and said base is flat withrecesses at each longitudinal end for receiving said large wheels andwith cylindrical receivers for receiving said wires whereby said toyvehicle is movable along a track system on said four small wheels andsaid large wheels are spaced from the track system.

6. A toy vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body connected to a first set of wheels; and

9 10 a supporting base connected to said vehicle body for connected tofour spaced apart wheels whereby supporting said vehicle body and saidfirst set of said vehicle body and aligned wheels are placed in wheels,said base mounted to a second set of a stabilized position. spaced apartwheels. 9. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said 7. A toyvehicle as claimed in laim 6 wh rein s id base includes two recesses forreceiving said aligned base and said second set of wheels retain saidvehicle Wheelsbody and said first set of wheels at a level above a sur-Vehicle moving along a track System face upon which said second set ofwheels move. comprising:

8. A toy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body attached to a set of wheels;and

a hi l b d connected to two h l li l 10 a base mounted to said vehiclebody, said base conaligned with the longitudinal axis of said vehiclenected to four Spaced l Wheels for retammg body so as to be unstable ifplaced on a horizontal said l body in {W Position and for f and movingsaid body along said track system.

a base to which said vehicle is mounted, said base

1. A toy vehicle movable along a track comprising: a vehicle body; atleast two large wheels mounted to said body; a base removably attachedto said vehicle body; and four small freely rotatable wheels mounted tosaid base, two wheels on each side of said base such that said largewheels mounted to said body are spaced from the track whereby said toyvehicle is movable along said track system on said four wheels.
 2. A toyvehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said small wheels are mounted onsmall diameter wires which in turn are embedded in the base.
 3. A toyvehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base is flat with recesses ateach longitudinal and for receiving said large wheels and withcylindrical receivers for receiving axles connected to said wheels.
 4. Atoy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle body simulatesthe shape of a motorcycle.
 5. A toy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body;at least two large wheels mounted to said body; a base removablyattached to said vehicle body; and four small freely rotatable wheelsmounted to said base, two wheels on each side of said base, said smallwheels are mounted on small diameter wires which in turn are embedded inthe base, and said base is flat with recesses at each longitudinal endfor receiving said large wheels and with cylindrical receivers forreceiving said wires whereby said toy vehicle is movable along a tracksystem on said four small wheels and said large wheels are spaced fromthe track system.
 6. A toy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body connectedto a first set of wheels; and a supporting base connected to saidvehicle body for supporting said vehicle body and said first set ofwheels, said base mounted to a second set of spaced apart wheels.
 7. Atoy vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said base and said second setof wheels retain said vehicle body and said first set of wheels at alevel above a surface upon which said second set of wheels move.
 8. Atoy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body connected to two wheels linearlyaligned with the loNgitudinal axis of said vehicle body so as to beunstable if placed on a horizontal surface; and a base to which saidvehicle is mounted, said base connected to four spaced apart wheelswhereby said vehicle body and aligned wheels are placed in a stabilizedposition.
 9. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said baseincludes two recesses for receiving said aligned wheels.
 10. A toyvehicle for moving along a track system comprising: a vehicle bodyattached to a set of wheels; and a base mounted to said vehicle body,said base connected to four spaced apart wheels for retaining saidvehicle body in an upright position and for moving said body along saidtrack system.